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MTA Still Clueless

The Maryland Transit Administration can’t properly operate the transit systems they have, but that isn’t stopping them from asking for more money to expand services:

As gasoline prices climb toward $4 a gallon, more commuters in Maryland are leaving their cars and trucks at home and hopping a bus or train to work.

The Maryland Transit Administration will seek approval next week to expand service on its long-distance bus lines to accommodate a surge of new riders. The so-called “commuter” buses ferry workers to Washington from places as far-flung as Hagerstown, Kent Island and Ellicott City.

The action comes at a time when ridership on almost all forms of transit – including subway, city bus and commuter rail – is up in Maryland and across the nation. Maryland’s long-distance commuter bus lines handle just a fraction of all the people taking transit every day, but officials say those lines are among the most sensitive to rising fuel prices because of the distances riders must travel to and from work

Given the complete incompetence of the MTA, additional funding for additional projects should be rejected. If these commuter bus lines need to exist, outsource the work out to private bus and coach companies who can offer such services competently and at a lower costs.

Apparently, the MTA senior leadership (who, despite my pleas, remain on the job) still haven’t gotten the memo that their system is in disarray.The Governor needs to get the MTA’s house and order, not create more ways for it to fail as a transit organization.

Author

Brian Griffiths is a Co-Founder and the Editor-in-Chief of Red Maryland. Brian is also co-host of Red Maryland Radio, and host of The Air Raid with Brian Griffiths. Brian has served in a number of capacities, including two-terms as Chairman of the Maryland Young Republicans, four years on the Maryland Republican Party Executive Board, President of the Anne Arundel County Young Republican, and Assistant Secretary and Northeast Regional Vice-Chairman of the Young Republican National Federation. He is a frequent guest on WBAL and WEAA radio, and also writes a column for The Capital in Annapolis.

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